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Cleanse Comparison

Last week I completed a four-day juice cleanse followed by two days of raw food all provided by Red Carpet Cleanses.

As you know, last year I detoxed with a three-day “Foundation” juice cleanse from BluePrint and the five-day L.O.V.E. Fast (Live. Organic. Vegan. Experience.) cleanse from Organic Avenue.

So you probably want to know, what’s the difference? Which is the best? Is one of them easier?

Overview
First, review a basic breakdown of the three cleanses. All three use fresh ingredients that only last a couple of days. Deliveries for RCC and OA come daily; BPC can drop off three days worth of juice at a time.

OA L.O.V.E. Fast: One elixir, one fruit juice, one green juice, one smoothie, one soup, one small salad, one coconut milk/water

(All three companies offer other cleanses as well.)

Why?
You also need to know my goals in cleansing:

Detox my organs

Repair my diet

Restore a normal appetite

Decrease cravings for processed sugar

So What Do I Think?
Following are my conclusions on the three cleanses.

Degree of Difficulty While OA has the most hearty offerings, it incorporates many veggies I really can’t stand. However, there is no way I could ever finish all of the stuff they sent for one day because it was so substantial. So if you’re a veggie lover, this would be the easiest cleanse by far because it’s closest to a normal diet.

BPC and RCC both offer six juices a day. RCC is a little easier because like OA it offers a sweet smoothie mid-day that is delicious. That boost in energy and moral keeps you motivated until your nighttime cashew milk. OA’s smoothies are by far the best because they offer a variety that often includes chocolate.

Both OA and RCC (soon BPC) offer raw food cleanses as well if you are fearful of going to straight juice on your first attempt.

The Green Factor
Obviously green juice is a big component of the cleanses.

Hands down OA’s is the worst, but you only have to drink it once a day (and it’s followed by the smoothie).

Most people would say BPC offers the best green juice because it’s sweetened with green apple. I like it as well, but the celery sometimes gets to me.

RCC gives me the option to exclude ingredients like celery in all of their juices so it was more enjoyable.

Out of the six juices offered by BPC and RCC, I usually only drank 5 because the green juice twice in RCC and three times in BPC per day became redundant.

BPC: $65 per day (for three-plus days including delivery in NYC), $85 per day including overnight shipping to anywhere in the US

RCC: $90 per day (including shipping in LA)

Honestly, if you’re serious about cleansing and getting your diet back on track, I think it’s worth the investment. You receive juices and recipes you can’t replicate on your own, the support of a nutritionist, and everything you need for the day so you don’t have to think about what to do next.

PortabilityBPC is by far the easiest if you’re on the go. They have a cute travel bag with a little ice pack to keep all of your juice cool. RCC offers a cooler tote, but it’s a lot more cumbersome.

OA comes in glass bottles so it’s not easy to throw in your purse (although I have).

The Good Stuff
There is always one juice in a cleanse that I crave months later. In OA, I love the smoothies so much that I go buy them separately when I’m in NYC. They have chocolate, mint chocolate chip, goji berry, and blueberry flavors for these nutrient-packed mixtures. Delicious!

Both BPC and RCC offer cashew milk at the end of each day. Such a treat after a long day of veggie juices. I prefer BPC’s—it’s like a vanilla milkshake. RCC’s is good as well, but not as thick.

RCC’s midday smoothie tastes the best, but I feel like the electrolyte lemonade you drink first is the most notable. According to September, the combination of the flax oil with the sulpher in the lemons and pears energizes you instantly. RCC also uses hexagonally structured water and adds probiotics to the green juice to generate good bacteria in your body.

Shipping
At this point BPC is only one that ships, although I believe OA will do upon request. RCC should be shipping soon!

DIY Cleansing
My first attempt at cleansing I tried to do it myself and it didn’t work at all. I was starving and had no idea how to nourish myself properly despite the fact I was following a menu I found online.

As I stated before, I think it’s important to have the support of a nutritionist to help explain your body’s reaction and how to cope with hunger. September from RCC will be offering coaching soon so you can do it yourself with assistance.

Bottom Line
I enjoy them all for different reasons. When experiencing each, I received the positive effects of cleansing and felt rejuvenated by the end.

If I had to choose ONE—I think for me RCC would be my favorite because I like all of the juices they provide in the day, and I need the midday smoothie and the evening cashew milk to keep me mentally satisfied.

You need to asses what your goals are and then review the menus to see which will help you accomplish them. On any cleanse, I suggest getting a colonic and maintaining a light exercise regimen to fully detox your body.

You’ll find there are so many benefits to cleansing. Notable improvements will occur in your health, skin, emotional well-being, stress level, and sleep schedule.

*Full Disclosure: BPC and RCC were provided for free. I received a 10 percent media discount for Organic Avenue.